TUPELO – Behind cameras and lights and deep in a maze of Trails & Treads merchandise, DeWayne Sorrell turned around and mouthed, “No laughing.”

It was as much a reminder to himself as it is to the fellow actors and crew, who were watching a scene being filmed for Sorrell’s first movie, “A Comic’s Hustle,” at Trails & Treads in Tupelo on Sunday.

Even though he knew what was going on in the scene – he helped write it, after all – Sorrell had botched one earlier in the day by laughing.

But laughter is exactly what Sorrell wants to hear – in the future.

The Corinth native teamed with Tupelo comedian Myles Hardin to write and produce the movie, which tells the story of a Tupelo High senior who dreams of becoming a comedian.

Proving the movie biz is about who you know, Sorrell used his networking skills to get some of the best comedians he knew to come to Tupelo for the first weekend of filming.

Started in Navy

Sorrell first became interested in comedy in San Diego, where he was working in the Navy.

He started working behind-the-scenes, meeting and promoting new comedians and staging stand-up shows across the Southeast.

“I love comedy,” he said. “I love to laugh.”

He met Hardin, who, like his character in the film, hopes to make a career out of comedy. The pair developed the story for “A Comic’s Hustle,” with 21-year-old Hardin as the main character.

“His parents want him to be a doctor, or a lawyer. They don’t want him to be a comedian, because it’s a hustle. So we named it ‘A Comic’s Hustle,’” Sorrell said.

In the film, Hardin’s character works at an athletic shoe store, so the crew used Trails & Treads as its location on Sunday.

It’s Hardin’s first acting gig, and since he’s the main character, he’s in almost every scene.

“I’ve been trying to cut back,” he joked.

Still, he’s relishing his first acting role.

“A majority of the cast is comedians, so we click,” he said.

The film also stars Shawn Harris, a BET comedian.

‘Learning experience’

A host of Kansas City-based comics are also in the film and wrapped their scenes Sunday morning before driving to Oklahoma for a stand-up show that night.

One of those comedians, Bobby J, plays Carl in “A Comic’s Hustle,” and it’s his first movie role.

“It’s definitely a learning experience, and I’ve had a blast all weekend,” he said.

Sorrell teamed with Pat Rasberry of the Tupelo Film Commission to get the film shot in town, and to use local actors, grips, make-up artists and more.

“A Comic’s Hustle” will be filmed in Tupelo and will finish production in August. Sorrell hopes the film will be done in December.

Hardin, meanwhile, hopes the experience is a steppingstone to a career in comedy.

“I’m trying to be the next Elvis Presley,” he said, “just not music-wise.”

Contact Sheena Barnett at (662) 678-1580 or sheena.barnett@djournal.com.